By:  Dorothy Riggs, CFE Being one of the people who still have a landline, upon arriving home one evening last week I listened to messages left on my answering machine and heard an unfamiliar voice asking “Can you hear me okay?” a few times before hanging up.  I thought it was strange.  Then I remembered a recent news story warning viewers about an old phone scam with a new twist where fraudsters phone you, begin talking, then suddenly ask, Can you hear me?  If you answer ‘yes’ your response is recorded and used to make unauthorized charges on a utility or phone bill. In some cases, your recorded acknowledgement is all it takes to make you liable not only for charges on phone and utilities, but items like cruises, office supplies and business services also.  So, when answering work and personal calls beware if you don’t want to receive unwanted products and invoices to contend with.

By:  Dorothy Riggs, CFE According to a report from a fraud-fighting colleague, Lycamobile customers are being targeted by scammers.  Lycamobile is a  mobile network operator company with competitive price offerings to consumers in 21 countries worldwide.  Don’t think the information in this post doesn’t apply to you because you use a different mobile network. Fraudsters show no partiality to one group over another. This time it’s Lycamobile customers who are being targeted. The next time it could be you. The Lyca Lottery scam works as follows: Perpetrators cold call Lycamobile customers, promising a £50k lottery win, once a £500 admin fee is paid.  Of course, once the £500 fee is paid the victim’s don’t receive a penny of the supposed lottery winnings.  To give the scheme an air of legitimacy, the crooks have set up a this sham website:   www.lycamobilewinners.com